The funds will be used to grow the business’ senior management team, launch its first bricks and mortar retail store and further build retail distribution.

Love Cocoa’s founder is chocolate innovator, James Cadbury, who is also the great-great-great-grandson of the original Mr Cadbury. The business is made up of luxury chocolate brand, Love Cocoa, and plant-based oat milk chocolate, H!P Chocolate, which enjoy a combined retail value of over £10million and have achieved growth of +300% over the last two years. With ethical values at the heart of the business, both brands are known for championing sustainably sourced, slave-free cocoa and plastic-free packaging alongside commitments to combating deforestation and climate change.

Cadbury said of the investment: “I’m delighted to have Richard and his team’s backing. I’m excited to be working with him on driving the strategic development of both Love Cocoa and H!P Chocolate, helping propel them from challenger brands to chocolate industry powerhouses.”

“Love Cocoa and H!P Chocolate are at the forefront of sustainable chocolate innovation,” commented Koch. “I’m looking forward to supporting the business on the next stage of its incredible journey.”

The investment will enable:

Ø  Opening up bricks and mortar stores under the Love Cocoa brand, with the aim of owning 10 stores in the next three years

Ø  Further increasing the distribution for H!P Chocolate, which successfully launched in Sainsbury’s last year

Ø  Growing Love Cocoa’s senior management team to include a new Finance Director and Head of Marketing

Cadbury said: “We’re excited to be going into physical retail later this year, launching our first Love Cocoa store. Retail is moving to an omnichannel approach, and we see the opportunity to innovate with our new stores offering unique, experiential moments. Alongside that, consumers are wanting to come back to the high street and that gives us the opportunity to deliver sensory chocolate experiences that simply can't be achieved shopping online. We see this as a real game changer for the business and can't wait to open our first store.”

He continued: "This is an immensely exciting time for the business, and I believe 2023 will be a landmark year for us.”

About Love Cocoa and H!P Chocolate

Love Cocoa launched in 2016 offering the UK’s first letterbox-friendly chocolate service. Since then, the luxury brand has become known for its sustainable credentials. One of the first chocolate producers to offer 100% plastic free packaging, Love Cocoa launched its ‘Plant A Tree’ pledge in 2020, planting a tree for every product purchased. To date, the brand has planted over 1.5million trees across North Africa and East Kenya. As well as bar chocolate, Love Cocoa’s range has grown to include truffles and selection boxes. The brand can be found in Anthropologie, Harrods, Fenwick, John Lewis, Liberty, and Selfridges.

Cadbury launched next-generation oat milk chocolate brand, H!P Chocolate, in 2021, with the aim of bringing no-compromise, great-tasting chocolate that just happens to be vegan, to the masses. The plant-based chocolate has a carbon footprint of over 50% lower than chocolate made with cow’s milk[1]. The brand recently secured listings in Sainsbury’s and Tesco Ireland, and is also stocked in Booths, Holland & Barrett and Ocado.